How often is Trial Court Judge elected?

The position of Trial Court Judge is typically elected every 4 years.

What does it mean for an election to be partisan?

Partisan elections require candidates to declare a party affiliation, like Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent.

What are the filing requirements to get on the ballot in Texas?

Major party-affiliated candidates should file an application for a place on the ballot to their respective state party chair. This should be accompanied by a filing fee of $1,500. The filing fee may be waived if the petition has been signed by at least 500 valid electors. Candidates in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant Counties have a higher filing fee of $2,500 and must also receive 250 petition signatures (or 750 in lieu of a filing fee). Minor party candidates should consult with their respective party chair to determine requirements. Independent candidates should file a Declaration of Intent to Run as an Independent Candidate during the primary filing period. In addition, independent candidates will need to collect a number of signatures equal to 5% of the number of votes cast within the district in the most recent gubernatorial election (or 500 signatures whichever is lower) in support of their application for a place on the general election ballot and submit these to the Secretary of State. All forms can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website.

Where do I submit my candidate paperwork?

Submit paperwork to the office of the county party chair; Independent candidates must submit paperwork to the county judge's office.

Where is the filing office?

Independents: James E. Rudder Bldg. 1019 Brazos St. Austin, Texas 78701; Republicans: 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 915 Austin, Texas 78701; Democrats: 1106 Lavaca Street, #100 Austin, Texas 78701

How can I get in touch with the filing office?

You can contact the filing office by calling Independent: 800.252.8683; Republicans: (512) 478-9800; Democrats: (512) 477-9821.

How do I get started running for Trial Court Judge?

You can start running for Trial Court Judge by checking to ensure you meet all filing deadlines and requirements. Next, you can prepare to file for office and start planning your campaign strategy. Get in touch with our team of campaign experts for help with any step of the campaign process!

Is there a primary or runoff election for this office?

The next election for Trial Court Judge does not include a primary or runoff election.

Trial Court Judge in Harris County, Texas

Candidates for Trial Court Judge

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Who's currently in office

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About Trial Court Judge

About this position

The district courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction of Texas. District courts have original jurisdiction in all felony criminal cases, divorce cases, cases involving title to land, election contest cases, civil matters in which the amount in controversy (the amount of money or damages involved) is $200 or more, and any matters in which jurisdiction is not placed exclusively in another trial court.

Office level: State
Election frequency: Every 4 years
Typical salary: $140000/year
Commitment level: Full Time
Affiliation: Partisan
Positions: 1 open seat

Election type

Partisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
Run-off election

How to run for Trial Court Judge

Step 1
Meet eligibility requirements
Candidate must be a citizen of U.S. and resident of Texas; age 25 to 74; resident of the district for 2 years; and have a practicing lawyer or judge in the State, or both combined, for 8 years. During which time the judge's license to practice law has not been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension.
Step 2
File for office
Filing requirements
Major party-affiliated candidates should file an application for a place on the ballot to their respective state party chair. This should be accompanied by a filing fee of $1,500. The filing fee may be waived if the petition has been signed by at least 500 valid electors. Candidates in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant Counties have a higher filing fee of $2,500 and must also receive 250 petition signatures (or 750 in lieu of a filing fee). Minor party candidates should consult with their respective party chair to determine requirements. Independent candidates should file a Declaration of Intent to Run as an Independent Candidate during the primary filing period. In addition, independent candidates will need to collect a number of signatures equal to 5% of the number of votes cast within the district in the most recent gubernatorial election (or 500 signatures whichever is lower) in support of their application for a place on the general election ballot and submit these to the Secretary of State. All forms can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website.
Filing period
March 4, 2026 - April 2, 2026
Paperwork instructions
Submit paperwork to the office of the county party chair; Independent candidates must submit paperwork to the county judge's office.
Where to file
Independents: James E. Rudder Bldg. 1019 Brazos St. Austin, Texas 78701; Republicans: 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 915 Austin, Texas 78701; Democrats: 1106 Lavaca Street, #100 Austin, Texas 78701
Filing phone
Independent: 800.252.8683; Republicans: (512) 478-9800; Democrats: (512) 477-9821
Step 3
Launch your campaign
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Trial Court Judge in Harris County, TX

On the ballot

Candidates for Trial Court Judge

What this symbol means

Who's currently in office

What this symbol means

Are you ready for Harris County's next election?

Check your voter registration

Find your polling location

Request a mail-in ballot

About Trial Court Judge

About this position

Election type

How to run for Trial Court Judge

Meet eligibility requirements

File for office

Launch your campaign

How to Run for Judge

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